I know that non matching numbers on the engine could decrease the value of your car, but what happens to the value when you start replacing panels, bumpers, etc. with made in china junk?

Ummmmm, It goes up in value? graemlins/clonk.gif

As oppposed to having a car with rusty holey panels that you can see the road through?

People alway feel NOS parts are worth more than repro no matter if they are a quarter panel or a door sill plate. Some parts you can't tell the difference, others look like they were made for a completly different car. You get what you pay for, and sometimes you have to take whats available. If your originals can be repaired, sometimes your better off doing that, if they are to far gone you may have no choice.

Thankfully when my body panels were replaced the only place to get them was GM, and a convertible quarter only cost 225 bucks. Of course the replacement panels have now been on the car longer than the original ones were.

There was some talk about this a few days ago in another section. When is a car considered "original" or a "survivor" ? My car is definately original un-restored and I have always considered it a survivor. #'s match, original interior, etc. It has new carpeting and was repainted 12 years ago, the engine has been dressed up a bit and that's it. Someone stated that if a survivor was repainted, it's no longer a survivior. Any thoughts??

Are we having another survivor discussion?

INHO a survivor is just that. It is the car chevy built, with no changes, no repaints, no aftermarket valve covers, nothing at all. Then we get to start splitting hairs about new carpet and stuff like that...

If the parts are damaged beyond repair replace them. It’s better than having a Flintstone car. ;) Unless your whole objective is to sell the car build it to suit your needs, period. After all, it’s your car enjoy it.

As mark said “you get what you pay for” so shop around a get the highest quality you can afford.

My buddy recently sold an original Shelby Mustang GT-350H. You know, the old rent-a-racer program from Hertz that featured cars like the Shelby Mustang and 427 Corvette!! (Yeah, I know it's not Chevy but what a beautiful damn car!)

Well, this car is a true survivor! No modifications of any kind since it was built in '66. With the old faded black/gold paint reasonable interior and pitted bumpers, the car was worth about $25,000. With new paint some NOS chrome and interior goodies he re-sold the car for over $50K.

I guess it depends on the condition of the original stuff. Some original stuff actually depreciates the car if it's in lousy condition while parts and paint in good shape add value. The trick is to know where the "line" is!

As far as the choice between NOS and reproduction, I would consider the intrinsic value of the car. For a mathing numbers COPO car, of course NOS is the only route! For a rusty 6 cylinder, plain vanilla sport coupe, the only value is probably sentimental! Most cars lie somewhere in between these two extremes and the owner has to decide what's best.

Paul D.

Only hard-core collectors or car guys respect survivor status. Most people want a good looking car. Thats when someone pays the big bucks, imho.

My 67 would be in a junkyard if it weren't for NOS, repro and sheeltmetal from a 67 Firebird. So, you can call it whatever you want, I'm just glad to have saved another Camaro. Some of you may have "unrestored" All original "survivors", but my car didn't sit in a garage doing nothing for years, it was used and run hard like any red-blooded American SS/RS! smile.gif My car has a real history other than "Old lady in Southern CA drove only on Sundays to church"..BORING!